Canada’s new envoy to Israel a strong critic of Palestinian leaders

Mark Kennedy, Postmedia News01.08.2014

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird with Vivian Bercovici, who was appointed as Canada’s new ambassador to Israel. Handout/Foreign Affairs
/ Postmedia News

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement announcing the appointment of Vivian Bercovici as Canada’s new ambassador to the State of Israel. Handout/ Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada. Handout/ Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada.
/ Postmedia News

OTTAWA — Just days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits the Middle East, his government has announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Israel who has publicly expressed strong criticism in the past of Palestinian leaders.

Toronto lawyer Vivian Bercovici becomes Canada’s envoy and will bolster the Harper government’s stance as a fervent ally of Israel.

It’s the second time in recent months the government has bypassed its own ranks of foreign service diplomats for a posting in the region. The head of Harper’s RCMP personal security detail, Bruno Saccomani, was named ambassador to Jordan last year.

Bercovici is the first non-diplomat sent to Israel by Harper’s Tories since they won power in 2006.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Wednesday it’s not unusual for this to happen, noting previous Liberal and Conservative governments sent an MP and a top political aide.

“I think it won’t be a huge shock to anyone that Canada is a strong supporter of the state of Israel,” said Baird in announcing the appointment.

“We have been a strong supporter of the only liberal democracy in the region. I would say the state of our relationship with the Arab world is strong, getting stronger every day. We have a good relationship with the Palestinian Authority.”

Bercovici, who appeared alongside Baird, read from prepared notes as she said Israel “has no greater friend in the world than Canada.”

“I know that this government’s principled stance on various fronts is warmly welcomed and appreciated by both the Israeli government and the Israeli people.”

“Canada supports Israel’s right to exist in peace and security. Canada stands firm in the international fight against anti-Semitism, including raising the awareness of the Holocaust.

“And Canada recognizes the importance of building inclusive and stable societies underpinned by democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.”

A year ago, in a Toronto Star column, she pulled no punches in accusing Palestinian leaders of having no real interest in reaching a peace agreement with Israel.

“Hamas, the PA (Palestinian Authority) and just about every government in the Middle East make no secret of their collective ideological commitment to the total destruction of the state of Israel, which they regard as a blasphemous blight on the Arab and Muslim worlds,” wrote Bercovici in the wake of an Israeli election.

“So in the end, it really doesn’t matter to them who wins and leads in Israel,” she wrote. “There is no willing negotiator on the Palestinian side.”

Baird said Bercovici, who studied in Israel in the early 1980s, will bring a “unique skill set” to her new posting.

“We have a lot of confidence that she will be able to do a good job,” adding, “we certainly can’t be hostage to past comments.”

“She is being appointed as our ambassador to Israel, not Ramallah (in the Palestinian West Bank). She has been critical of the Palestinian Authority, and critical of the Israeli government on occasion.”

The NDP expressed concern Wednesday about the appointment.

“There are a couple of basic questions,” said foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar.

“Is she the best person qualified for the job? Is there no one else within the department qualified?”

Dewar said the opinions she wrote in op-ed articles will now impact her performance as envoy.

“It makes it very difficult for her to be very successful in doing her job in the region. Israel is not an island. Israelis would be the first ones to tell you that. You need someone who can build relationships.”

“We would have hoped they would have appointed someone willing to do the hard work of diplomacy and to work to build relationships with the Israeli government, of course, but also with other actors in the region.”

Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, a Canadian advocacy group, said in an interview that Bercovici is well poised for her job.

“The fact that she has very deep knowledge of Israel as a country, of the challenges that Israel faces, and that her own orientation is in sync with that of the government is, I think, very helpful.”

“It will engender amongst Israelis a level of confidence in her that will make them much more receptive to the interests that she wants to advance — whether it’s a business deal or a Canadian perspective on a political issue.”

The appointment comes at a critical time in the region’s history. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been leading a peace process in an effort to end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians in territories such as the West Bank.

Some intractable issues are on the table, including: Israel’s insistence that it be recognized as a Jewish state; Palestinian demands that generations of refugees be allowed to return to their homeland; possible border lines if Israel and Palestine reach a “two-state” solution; and the future of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Harper will make his first trip to the region later this month, with stops in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.

Baird said Canada stands ready to assist with the U.S.-led peace process.

He spoke cautiously about whether Canada opposes the Israeli recent decision to build more apartments in the West Bank — a move opposed by the Palestinians.

“Our views are well known to our Israeli interlocutors. We think unilateral action on either side is unhelpful.”

Baird declined to go further, saying: “I’m not going to join on in an international pile-on. What we are going to do is try to constructively engage both parties.”

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